YOU: THe writer

ME: THE Support

MY APPROACH

You are the author, and that is where we begin. You understand your story best.

My work is to help you uncover, dust off, and polish the truths at the heart of your work. My role is to support your story and goals, whether that be to publish, write three times a week, or reshape your piece.

SERVICES

Creative Coaching

Put the pieces together as we connect by Zoom for 60 minutes. I’ll listen to the story you tell and — perhaps more importantly — the story you don’t tell. Expect to finish with a clearer sense of what you are working towards with your words, as well as with an exercise that will help you get there.

For new clients, this offering includes a one-page reflection within 72 hours of what I heard you say your story is, as well as any themes and threads that might be worth noticing a bit more.

For returning clients, this offering includes a read-through of up to 1,500 words or 8 pages of poetry prior to our meeting, which will serve as the jumping-off point for our session. Work must be submitted 48 hours in advance.

$195 / session

COLLEGE ESSAY ADVISING

For any student looking to craft an original, clear, engaging Personal Statement for the Common App, book this 60-minute session. Be ready to explore unique prompts and dive deep into how you have changed and grown over your life, but also be prepared to shine a light on how your chosen college campus will benefit from your special gifts and talents.

Expect to leave the session with clearly stated tasks to move the essay towards completion.

This is ideal for the student who has done quite a bit of work already, or for a student who wants support beginning the essay. A session includes one round of suggested edits via Google docs, as long as student submits a draft within 1 week after meeting. (Accountability helps with getting over the finish line!)

$195 / session

$750

PACKAGE: STORY DOULA

For returning clients, book 4 separate hour-long sessions as a package and deepen your commitment to your project.

Receive exercise suggestions, a read-through of up to 8,000 words, and a keen eye of how to shape and craft your story to be more compelling, thorough, and clear. You will also receive notes summarizing the Zoom sessions.

All sessions must be completed within 4 months and any work must be submitted 48 hour prior to the meeting. The 8,000 words may be broken into smaller sections/pieces, or you may submit at one time.

Expect to finish the time together with a blossoming project, understanding of the connections between characters and themes, and clarity on the arc.

$750

PACKAGE: ESSAY WORK

For those needing more help with their Personal Statement, or for those students who have additional essay questions — this is the package for you.

Truly, a great essay is 25% writing, 25% editing, 25% simmering, and 25% re-writing. Expect to finish the 4-session package with a completed Personal Statement or up to 3 short essay questions. Be ready to find confidence, excitement, and clarity on how to answer other essay questions — whether for additional college applications or down the road in your Freshman symposium.

Includes up to 4 rounds of suggested edits via Google docs. Student must submit essay at least 48 hours prior to first meeting. Copy must be submitted within a week of the last meeting for final edits.

I look forward to connecting as you connect the dots!

For writers of all levels, I’m here to help you move forward with confidence, wherever you're headed next.

Connect so we can ensure my offerings and style align with your needs.

SCHEDULE CONSULT

“Hiring Melissa as my developmental editor was a wise investment.

I knew I needed help in organizing my memoir into a more cohesive format. It had become increasingly harder for me to maintain objectivity since I had been working so closely with my story for such a long time. Melissa’s professional viewpoint and insights proved invaluable. She helped identify themes I hadn’t even considered. She highlighted passages in which I had veered off from the story arc. Thanks to her beneficial suggestions, my story is in a more orderly progression.

My memoir contains many difficult and grief-filled chapters. Melissa didn’t shy away from responding, offering heartfelt and gentle acknowledgments of those challenges which revealed her own tender heart of compassion.

I greatly appreciated Melissa’s organized and detailed way in which she worked, along with the thoroughness of the feedback she offered. Working with Melissa helped me become a better writer. I’d highly recommend her.”

— Mary Ellen Lucas, author